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3. CONVENIENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT

a. Basis. A Service member may be separated for convenience of the Government for the following reasons:
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(8) Other Designated Physical or Mental Conditions

(a) The Secretary concerned may authorize separation on the basis of other designated physical or mental conditions, not amounting to disability, that interfere with assignment to or performance of duty. Such conditions may include, but are not limited to, chronic seasickness or airsickness, enuresis, and personality disorder.

(b) Separation processing may not be initiated until the member has been counseled formally concerning deficiencies and has been afforded an opportunity to overcome those deficiencies as reflected in appropriate counseling or personnel records. For personality disorders, the member will also be counseled that the diagnosis of a personality disorder does not qualify as a disability.

(c) Separation on the basis of personality disorder is authorized only if a diagnosis by a psychiatrist or PhD-level psychologist utilizing the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Reference (l)), and in accordance with procedures established by the Military Department concerned, concludes that the disorder is so severe that the member's ability to function effectively in the military environment is significantly impaired. For Service members who have served or are currently serving in imminent danger pay areas, a diagnosis of personality disorder as addressed in the previous sentence must be corroborated by a peer or higher-level mental health professional and endorsed by the Surgeon General of the Military Department concerned. The diagnosis must address post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other mental illness co-morbidity. The onset of personality disorder is frequently manifested in the early adult years and may reflect an inability to adapt to the military environment as opposed to an inability to perform the requirements of specific jobs or tasks or both. As such, observed behavior of specific deficiencies should be documented in appropriate counseling or personnel records and include history from sources such as supervisors, peers, and others, as necessary to establish that the behavior is persistent, interferes with assignment to or performance of duty, and has continued after the Service member was counseled and afforded an opportunity to overcome the deficiencies.

(d) Separation for personality disorder is not appropriate nor should it be pursued when separation is warranted on the basis of unsatisfactory performance or misconduct. In such circumstances, the member should not be separated under this paragraph regardless of the existence of a personality disorder. Unless found fit for duty by the disability evaluation system, a separation for personality disorder is not authorized if service-related PTSD is also diagnosed.

(e) Nothing in paragraph 3.a.(8) of this enclosure precludes separation of a Service member who has a personality disorder or other designated physical or mental conditions under any other basis set forth in paragraph 3 of this enclosure (convenience of the Government) or for any other reason authorized by this Instruction.

(f) Prior to involuntary separation under this provision, the notification procedure in paragraph 2 of Enclosure 6 shall be used. Documentation must include evidence that the Service member is unable to function effectively because of a personality disorder.

(g) The reasons designated by the Secretary concerned shall be separately reported.
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b. Characterization or Description. Honorable, unless the separation is under one of the following circumstances:

(1) An entry-level separation is required under paragraph 3.c. of Enclosure 4.

(2) The characterization of service is general (under honorable conditions) as warranted under paragraph 3.b.(2) of Enclosure 4.